Folding door system

Abstract

A folding door system comprising a concealed hinge, a first frame, and a second frame. The concealed hinge comprises a first hinge block having a slot formed therein and defining a first sliding portion, a second hinge block having a slot formed therein and defining a second sliding portion, a first linkage having a first connection pivotally secured to the first hinge block and a second connection slidably and pivotally secured within the second sliding portion, and a second linkage pivotally connected to the first linkage and having a third connection pivotally secured to the second hinge block and a fourth connection slidably and pivotally secured within the first sliding portion. The first hinge block is mounted to a side face of the first frame and the second hinge block is mounted to a side face of the second frame.

1 . A folding door system comprising:
 a concealed hinge comprising:
 a first hinge block having a slot formed therein and defining a first sliding portion, 
 a second hinge block having a slot formed therein and defining a second sliding portion, 
 a first linkage having a first connection pivotally secured to the first hinge block and a second connection slidably and pivotally secured within the second sliding portion, and 
 a second linkage pivotally connected to the first linkage and having a third connection pivotally secured to the second hinge block and a fourth connection slidably and pivotally secured within the first sliding portion, 
   a first frame and a second frame, each frame having a pair of opposed major faces, a reference line extending perpendicularly between the opposed major faces, and a pair of opposed side faces, wherein the distance between the opposed major faces defines a width,   wherein the first hinge block is mounted to one of the side faces of the first frame and the second hinge block is mounted to one of the side faces of the second frame,   wherein the first sliding portion has a first section that forms a first angle relative to the reference line of the first frame, wherein the first angle is up to 115 degrees,   wherein the second sliding portion has a first section that forms a second angle relative to the reference line of the second frame, wherein the second angle is up to 115 degrees,   wherein, upon sliding the second connection from a first position to a second position in the first section of the second sliding portion and sliding the fourth connection from a first position to a second position in the first section of the first sliding portion, the second frame is rotated from a substantially closed position to a partially open position about an equivalent pivot axis,   wherein the first frame comprises a first plane parallel to and coincident with the first major face of the first frame, and a second plane parallel to and coincident with the second major face of the first frame,   wherein the first and second sliding portions are arranged such that, as the second frame rotates from the substantially closed position to the partially open position, the equivalent pivot moves from a first position between the first and second planes to a second position between the first and second planes,   wherein the first sliding portion comprises a second section extending from the first section at a third angle relative to the first section of the first frame, and the second sliding portion comprises a second section extending from the first section at a fourth angle relative to the first section of the second frame,   wherein the first and second sliding portions are arranged such that, sliding the second connection from a first position to a second position within the second section of the second sliding portion and sliding the fourth connection from a first position to a second position within the second section of the first sliding portion, rotates the second frame from the partially open position to a substantially open position where the opposed major faces of the second frame are substantially perpendicular to the opposed major faces of the first frame,   wherein the third angle is greater than the first angle relative to the reference line,   wherein the fourth angle is greater than the second angle relative to the reference line, and   wherein the equivalent pivot axis moves away from the first plane as the second frame rotates from the substantially closed position to the partially open position, and wherein the equivalent pivot axis moves towards the first plane as the second frame rotates from the partially open position to the substantially open position.   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second position of the equivalent pivot is between approximately 5% and 30% of the width from the first plane. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second position of the first sliding portion is between 25% and 75% of the width of the first frame from the first major face of the first frame, and wherein the second position of the second sliding portion is between 25% and 75% of the width of the second frame from the first major face of the second frame. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first angle of the first sliding portion is between 70 and 110 degrees, and wherein the second angle is between 70 and 110 degrees. 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second frame is rotated by approximately 15 degrees relative to the first frame in the partially open position. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 a rail hinge comprising a moving part secured to the side face of the second frame, and a fixed part configured to slide along an external rail, 
 wherein the moving part is connected to the fixed part about a pivot axis, 
 wherein the second frame comprises an origin at the intersection between the first major face and the side face having the moving part secured thereto, and a second reference line spaced from the origin by an offset in a direction perpendicular to the side face, 
 wherein the second reference line extends at an angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to the side face, 
 wherein the offset is the distance between the first face of the second frame in the substantially closed position and the side face having the moving part secured thereto when rotated to the substantially open position, and 
 wherein the pivot axis is located between the major faces of the second frame and intersects the second reference line. 
 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 6 , wherein the pivot axis is spaced from the side face having the moving part secured thereto by a distance of between −3% and 109% of the width of the second frame. 
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 6 , wherein the offset is between −10% and 17% of the width of the second frame. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the third angle is greater than the first angle by up to 120 degrees, and wherein the fourth angle is greater than the second angle by up to 120 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the second position of the second section of the first sliding portion is between 25% and 75% of the width of the first frame from the first major face of the first frame, and wherein the second position of the second section of the second sliding portion is between 25% and 75% of the width of the second frame from the first major face of the second frame. 
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein, in the substantially open position, the equivalent pivot is spaced from the first plane by a distance of less than approximately 10% of the width. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first section of the first sliding portion has a smaller radius of curvature than the second section of the first sliding portion, and wherein the first section of the second sliding portion has a smaller radius of curvature than the second section of the second sliding portion. 
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first sliding portion comprises a third section extending from the second section towards the first connection in the first hinge block, wherein the second sliding portion comprises a third section extending from the second section towards the third connection in the second hinge block, and wherein, upon sliding the second connection from the second position in the second section to a first position in the third section of the second sliding portion and sliding the fourth connection from the second position in the second section to a first position in the third section of the first sliding portion, the second frame is rotated from the substantially open position to a fully open position where the major faces of the first frame are substantially parallel and adjacent to the major faces of the second frame. 
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first sliding portion is substantially symmetrical to the second sliding portion. 
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein the distance between the third and fourth connections defines a radius of a circle centred about the third connection, wherein a tangent of the circle intersecting the fourth connection forms an acute angle with a tangent of the first sliding portion in contact with the fourth connection. 
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second frames comprise:
 a first section comprising an outer wall defining a first channel;   a second section comprising an outer wall;   a first insulating member secured to the first and second sections and arranged to space the first section from the second section, and   fastening means disposed within the first channel and connected to a respective hinge block through an opening in the outer wall of the first section,   wherein the first section, the second section and the first insulating member define a void arranged to receive a respective hinge block, and   wherein the outer wall of the second section has an edge configured to engage with the hinge block so as to secure the respective hinge block thereto.   
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 17  comprising a second insulating member secured to the first and second sections and disposed in the void, wherein the second insulating member comprises a slot configured to receive a portion of the hinge block. 
     
     
         19 . A system according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second frames comprises:
 a first section comprising an outer wall defining a first channel;   a second section comprising an outer wall defining a second channel;   a first insulating member secured to the first and second sections and arranged to space the first section from the second section, and   fastening means disposed within the first and second channels,   wherein the first section, the second section and the first insulating member define a void arranged to receive a respective hinge block, and   wherein the respective hinge block secured to the first and second sections comprises a beam member having the slot portion formed therein, and a thermally insulating member secured to the beam member, and   wherein the fastening means are connected to the thermally insulating member through a respective opening in the outer wall of each of the first and second sections so as to secure the respective hinge block thereto.   
     
     
         20 . A concealed hinge for a folding door system according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled)